Metatarsus facts for kids
| Bone: Metatarsal | ||
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| Skeleton of foot. Superior view. Metatarsus shown in green. | ||
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| Skeleton of left foot from the side. Metatarsus shown in purple. | ||
| Latin | metatarsus ossa metatarsalia |
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| Gray's | subject #64 272 | |
| MeSH | Metatarsus | |
The metatarsus or metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot. They are between the tarsal bones of the hind and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes.
The metatarsal bones are numbered from the side of the large toe: the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal. They can be numbered with Roman numerals. The metatarsals are like the metacarpal bones of the hand.
The metatarsal bones are often broken by soccer players. This may be caused by the lightweight design of modern football boots, which give less protection to the foot. In 2010 some soccer players began testing a new sock that had a rubber silicon pad over the foot to protect the top of the foot.
Images for kids
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X-ray of foot.
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Skeleton of left foot. Medial aspect.
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Oblique section of left intertarsal and tarsometatarsal articulations, showing the synovial cavities.
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Safety footwear with removable metatarsal guard.
See also
In Spanish: Metatarso para niños
